Short Story Long: Life Lessons from Leaders, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs
Short Story Long shares life-changing stories of growth, resilience, and reinvention from leaders, coaches, and everyday people navigating pivotal turning points. Hosted by leadership coach Beki Fraser, each episode explores the moments that shaped someone's path and the lessons we can all learn.
Every other week, Beki follows up with a Skill Builder episode that breaks down insights from the previous story into practical tools, reflection prompts, and leadership actions.
Whether you're building a business, transitioning into a new career, or learning to lead with greater purpose, this podcast offers real stories and practical strategies to help you grow. New episodes every other week.
Episodes
46 episodes
From Drifting to Driven: Building Career Ownership and Growth
Ever feel like your career is steering you instead of the other way around? We dig into the shift from autopilot to agency and unpack how development-minded leadership turns growth into a daily practice rather than a once-a-year form. Drawing o...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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17:20
No More Autopilot: Claim Your Leadership Agency — Tammy Daniels’ Story
What happens when you finally take control of your career? Tammy Daniels' story reveals how one pivotal decision transformed her professional trajectory and personal understanding.After years of following the work at established law fir...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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57:09
Layoffs and Job Hugging: Leading Through Uncertainty
Layoffs shatter our sense of security and challenge our professional identity in profound ways. Whether you've just received the news, survived while colleagues departed, or sense the anxiety of possible workforce reductions, this episode offer...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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24:55
Redefining Success After a Layoff — Steve Jaffe’s Story
When the rug is pulled out from under your career, what comes next? Steve Jaffe knows this disorienting experience all too well. After weathering four layoffs across his 25-year marketing career, he's transformed from someone devastated by job ...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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44:27
Breaking Old Scripts: The Courage to Choose Your Own Leadership Story
What happens when the version of success you've been told to follow no longer fits who you really are? Chris Blount faced this question head-on, making the brave choice to honor his authentic self by leaving behind security for something unknow...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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21:55
From Burnout to On Purpose: Rewiring Work & Life — Chris Blount’s Story
What happens when the blueprint you've been handed for success starts suffocating your soul? Chris Blount's journey offers a compelling answer to this question that many of us face but few dare to confront.Growing up in a blue-collar Ne...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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45:52
Stop Doing All the Things: Get Recognized for Your True Impact
Ever found yourself drowning in tasks but wondering why you're not growing as a leader? You might be caught in what I call the "breadth trap" – mistaking busyness for advancement and spreading yourself too thin across responsibilities without d...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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24:44
Shannon King's Story: Surviving the Fallout of Broken Corporate Promises
The moment Shannon King declined a lateral position after returning from maternity leave, she knew exactly what it meant – unemployment. Yet, she felt completely at peace with her decision. After seven years of building a department from scratc...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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47:50
The Mindset Shift: From Manager to Strategic Leader
The leap from technical expert to strategic leader requires more than skill—it demands a shift in mindset. This episode highlights the subtle but powerful communication shifts that signal executive readiness, and the importance of c...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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4:49
Aaron Wilkerson's Story: The Mindset Shift That Fueled His Promotion
In this episode, I reconnect with Aaron Wilkerson, a former client and thoughtful leader whose growth journey offers real insight into what it takes to move from technical expert to strategic leader. Together, we explore how leaders...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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48:38
The Focus Paradox: Do Less, Achieve More - Skill Builder
Show Notes (199 words):What’s the difference between staying busy and making meaningful progress? Focused leadership reshapes the way we work—and how we feel about that work. It’s easy to default to being available, in...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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5:04
Namon's Story: Choosing Growth Into HR Over Going with the Flow
This episode explores Namon's journey from a decade in sales to a new path in human resources. Blending his creative identity as DJ Blue with a growing passion for people-focused work, Namon shares how formal education became a tool for finding...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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35:19
Celebrating a Decade of Entrepreneurship: Insights and Evolution
In this special anniversary episode, we’re turning the mic around! To mark 10 years of full-time coaching through my business, Focus for Growth, I’m stepping into the guest seat. My friend and podcast producer, Richard Dodds, hosts the conversa...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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38:57
Boundaries for Effective Leadership - Skill Builder
Leadership isn't just about managing others—it's about managing yourself with intention. Drawing from a powerful conversation with Alan Heyman, this episode dives deep into two critical leadership skills: setting boundaries and creating psychol...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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5:48
Alan Heymann's Story: Reclaiming Energy Through Professional Reinvention
From drowning in meetings to discovering his authentic path, Alan Heyman's journey reveals what happens when we acknowledge the disconnect between career expectations and reality. This transformative conversation pulls back the curtain on what ...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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43:27
Fear Doesn't Have to Run Your Show - Skill Builder
Let's dig into the powerful distinction between following someone else's blueprint and charting your own authentic path as a leader.This episode explores how effective leadership begins with managing your internal reactions—especially fe...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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5:15
Toby Adamson's Story: Reimagining Who You Are When Life Forces a New Path
What happens when you realize you're living a life on remote control? For Toby Adamson, this revelation sparked a transformation.Her awakening triggered a series of life-altering decisions. After years of solving business problems with ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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28:03
Why You’re Not an Imposter: Rethinking “Fake It Till You Make It”
Episode SummaryImposter syndrome shows up when leaders question whether they truly deserve their achievements. But what if those feelings of self-doubt are actually signs of growth? In this episode of Short Story Long, Be...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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6:11
Imposter Syndrome, Self-Compassion, and Redefining Success — Kris Liebau's Story
Episode SummarySuccess doesn’t always look the way we expect. Sometimes it’s not the certification, the title, or even the recognition that brings true fulfillment; it’s the journey itself. In this episode of Short Story Long<...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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37:07
Brave Conversations: Preparing for Life-Changing Discussions - Skill Builder
We've all faced moments when a deeply personal truth demands to be spoken, yet everything inside us screams to stay silent. These brave conversations—whether coming out to loved ones, revealing major life changes, or addressing difficult topics...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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9:50
John Neral's Story: How a Personal Journey Shaped a Career Coach's Approach
The journey to authenticity often begins with our most challenging personal moments. In this profound conversation with career coach John Neral, we explore how his experience of coming out to his parents at age 28 shaped not just his personal l...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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31:00
Networking to Build Relationships - Skill Builder
We build protective stories around our awkward experiences, convincing ourselves we're simply not cut out for schmoozing in crowded rooms or making small talk with strangers. These narratives serve a purpose – they shield us from discomfort and...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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15:33
Scott Fleszar’s Story: From Layoff to First-Time CEO
In this episode, we explore powerful themes of resilience, reinvention, and the importance of staying connected. Scott Fleszar shares how a sudden career disruption became a catalyst for reflection and transformation. Rather than being defined ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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34:56
The Mindset Advantage: Mastering Leadership Agility - Skill Builder
The journey of leadership often requires us to make choices with incomplete information and limited time.Drawing from my conversation with Scott Hanton about his career-defining moment when he had to decide between working for an unsuit...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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8:15